Royal Concert Hall

The Theatre Royal and Royal Concert Hall form an entertainment complex in Nottingham. Both venues are next door to each other. The Theatre Royal is situated on Theatre Square, and the Royal Concert Hall is at the junction of Burton Street and South Sherwood Street, directly opposite the Cornerhouse complex.

The railway station is approximately half an hour away by foot, but there are taxis available. There’s a drop off point in the lay-by of the Royal Concert Hall. The Theatre Royal is on the City Centre’s tram route and has its own stop listed as the Royal Centre. The railway tram stop is listed as Nottingham Station and can be accessed from inside the station. Trams go past the Theatre Royal and will stop if requested to do so. Trams run approximately every 7 – 10 minutes at off peak times and 3 – 5 minutes at peak times.
Parking spaces for mobility badge holders are located on Burton Street at the back of the Royal Concert Hall, and at the lower end of Wollaton Street near to the tram stop. There are also spaces on Talbot Road which is closer, but please note there are no dropped curbs.
Discounts are available to badge holders using the City Council’s car parks – the closest being Trinity Square car park on North Church Street. Other car parks located nearby are the Euro car park on Upper Parliament Street and the Crowne Plaza car park located on Wollaton Street.

Holders of the City Council’s Senior Citycard can travel for free on the trams and local bus services after 9:30am and up until 11:00pm Monday to Friday, and at all times during weekends and Bank Holidays. Holders of the Mobility Citycard (for disabled travellers) can use the trams and local buses free at all times. Additional information to help plan your journey can be found online at citycardnottingham.co.uk and .
There are special travel and parking concessions for customers attending performances at the Theatre Royal and Royal Concert Hall. For further details, please contact the Theatre Royal and Royal Concert Hall directly either by e-mail or on the number given at the end of this information.

The Theatre Royal in Nottingham was built by John and William Lambert in 1865. It was remodelled by renowned architect Frank Matcham in 1897 – and then again in 1979. The auditorium is a traditional horse-shoe shape and is furnished in an ornate Victorian style. It seats about 1200 people in stalls, a dress circle, an upper circle and a balcony. The seating in the stalls is raked quite steeply down towards the stage. An aisle encloses the seating, running around the back and sides of the auditorium. Please note this aisle has no handrail.

The main entrance to the Theatre Royal is an impressive Victorian portico with six white pillars. The portico shelters five sets of heavy double doors which open outwards. The doors to the far left are ramped for wheelchair access. These doors are also automated. The next set has two steps leading up to it, and the remaining three sets each have three steps.
The main doors bring you into the foyer area. To the left of the foyer is a curved wall – on the other side of which is the rear of the theatre auditorium.
The Box Office counter is to your right, next to the staircase. You can collect tickets for the performance approximately one hour before the performance begins. Please note, tickets or bookings for alternative shows and days can be collected from the main Box Office which is located in the foyer of the Concert Hall. If in doubt, please ask a member of staff for assistance.

To the left of the Box Office counter is the main staircase which leads to the theatre’s upper levels. Just beyond the foyer staircase, is a sunken seating area. There are three steps down to a fixed circular table with seating around it.

The Cloakroom is beyond this seating area and to your right. Pushchairs are not permitted inside the auditorium, they must be checked into the cloakroom prior to the start of the performance. There is a £1 fee per item. Ice-creams can be purchased from here during the interval.
The Theatre’s access desk is located between the cloakroom and a sweet kiosk. Both the Theatre Royal and Royal Concert Hall have an infa-red Senheiser transmission system to relay sound. Headsets and neck loops are available from the Access desk free of charge. Braille and large print cast lists are also available from the Access desk during audio described performances. Nottingham Theatre Royal and Royal Concert Hall host a variety of assisted performances, these include: audio described, sign language interpreted, captioned, and relaxed performances. If you have any questions regarding access or would like further information regarding upcoming assisted performances, please don’t hesitate to ask the member of staff. Alternatively, please contact Access Officer, Emily Noakes, whose contact details are listed at the end of this information.
The sweet kiosk is located next to the access desk. Chocolate, sweets, nibbles, cold drinks, and programmes are all available. Card payments are accepted.
Toilet facilities on the ground floor are located on the left hand side, opposite the sweet kiosk, and just before the entrance to The Green Room café bar. Please note that baby changing and accessible toilet facilities are situated on the ground floor only at present.
The Green Room café bar opens two hours before curtain up and provides a range of light bites, and hot and cold refreshments. There is a small ramped step down into the bar. The serving counter is on the right, with seating is to the left. An alternative exit out of the Theatre is straight through the bar and out of a set of double doors, which open both ways. There are no steps. To enter the Concert Hall foyer and main Box Office, there is a covered walkway which is in a straight line between the two venues.

The entrance to the Stalls Right is directly opposite the cloakroom. There’s level access to the auditorium through this door – you’ll walk along a short corridor, and turn to your left. This brings you into the auditorium about halfway back, with the stage to your right. Wheelchairs can enter the auditorium via this entrance.

The Stalls Left entrance is directly to your left as you come in through the entrance doors. Three steps lead up to a small landing. Turn immediately right to get into the auditorium. You will come in to the left of the auditorium, at the back.
Upon entering the foyer, the Theatre’s lift is ahead, but slightly to the left. It is directly opposite the main staircase. The lift gives access to levels one and two. Level one hosts The Restaurant, a bar, a comfortable seating area, and the entrances to Dress Circle Left and Right. The lift doors open on the opposite side to the side you entered. As you exit, the Restaurant is ahead of you and slightly to your right. The Restaurant opens two hours before evening and weekend matinee performances, and For High Tea only on midweek matinee performances.
The Dress Circle bar is to the right of The Restaurant. On evening performances a pianist plays music on level one, approximately an hour before curtain up. Comfortable seating is located opposite the bar, and slightly to your left. Please note, there are no toilet facilities on this level, these facilities are available on the ground floor and on level two.
The entrances to Dress Circle Right and Left are situated behind the lift on the right hand side. When you step out of the lift, turn right, walk around the lift, and follow the curved wall, which will lead you to the entrance to Dress Circle Right. From here, a small passage leads to the right, and brings you out at the back of the Dress Circle. Access to Boxes C and D are also through this entrance. The stage is to your left. The Dress Circle is tiered seating, and a staircase without a handrail leads down to rows A to F. An aisle also runs around the back of the Dress Circle and down the sides, with steps, and a handrail.
The entrance to Dress Circle Left is the second set of doors. A small passage leads to the left and will bring you out at the back of the Dress Circle. The stage is to your right. There is also a staircase without a handrail to your right that leads to Rows A to F. This entrance also has access to Boxes D and E. Wheelchair spaces are on Row G and in Box D. Ice-creams are sold directly outside these entrances during the interval. The aisle that runs around the back and down each side of the Dress Circle, also leads to a set of fire exit routes that can also be used for exiting the auditorium once a performance is finished. Please note, both exit routes have staircases.
Level two leads to the Upper Circle Left and Right entrances, the balcony, and toilet facilities. You will step out of the lift through the opposite side to the one through which you entered. Turn right, walk around the lift, and follow the curved wall, which is to your left. This will bring you to the Upper Circle Right entrance. Continuing in the same direction there are three central steps that lead up to the entrance of the Balcony. If you continue in the same direction you will come to the final entrance, Upper Circle Left.
The ladies toilets are opposite Upper Circle Right, and have five steps leading up and a handrail. The Gents are opposite the Balcony, slightly to the right and have five steps leading up and a handrail. An accessible toilet is located on the opposite side of the foyer, just past the bar. This can be accessed with a RADAR key.

For all audio described performances, if you would like to listen to the introductory notes, you should collect your headset in good time to take your seat 15 minutes before the start of the performance.
Prior to a performance and during the interval, the Access Officer, Emily Noakes, will be available in the public areas and will be happy to provide any assistance.
Useful Information and Contact Details
Both Nottingham Theatre Royal and the Concert Hall welcome Guide dogs in the auditorium during a performance. Alternatively, staff are happy to offer a dog-sitting or walking service. If you are bringing a Guide Dog you will probably have informed the ticket office on making your booking. However, if you have not, or if you require any further information, please call the Access Officer, Emily Noakes on 0115 989 5609. You can also e-mail –trch.access@nottinghamcity.gov.uk
Should you require the support of a carer or companion, you can join the venue’s Access Requirement Register (ARR) to benefit from a reduced price on the companion ticket.
Registration on the ARR can be completed in advance of ticket booking. Alternatively, if you book tickets prior to completing the ARR, tickets will be held on reservation until the ARR application form is completed, and then payment can be processed.
An application can be completed by either the person with the disability or by the Personal Assistant if they will be booking tickets on your behalf.
Forms are available online at trch.co.uk/access or via hard copy, requested via the box office or email trch.access@nottinghamcity.gov.uk.
In addition, the information you provide for the ARR about your access needs will help the venue to find the best available seats for your needs. You only need to register every 3 years and it will help us look after your future enquiries and bookings more efficiently.

Please note that this information has been supplied by the venue and although every effort has been made to check details, you may still have some queries. In this case, we would ask you to contact the theatre direct for clarification. the telephone number is 0115 989 5555. Further information can be found on the venue’s website – trch.co.uk.